The city of San Francisco could become the first major league city to ban smokeless tobacco from its playing fields, thanks to a city ordinance being pushed through the assembly.
San Francisco moves closer to banning chewing tobacco from ballparks
San Francisco is close to passing a city ordinance that would ban the use of smokeless tobacco in all athletic facilities by 2016.
San Francisco supervisors voted unanimously in favor of the bill, which would ban the use of smokeless tobacco at all city athletic fields, per the Associated Press:
The San Francisco ordinance is part of an overall push by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, based in Washington, D.C., which targeted the city and California to promote its anti-smoking efforts. An even more expansive bill outlawing all tobacco use, including electronic cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, wherever an organized game of baseball is played in California is making its way through the Assembly.
The bill is subject to another vote next week and, if passed, would take effect on Jan. 1, 2016.
Smokeless tobacco is already banned throughout minor league baseball, but the major league limitations are not as severe, and are subject to collective bargaining.
The current collective bargaining agreement between players and owners bans the use of smokeless tobacco by major league players, managers and coaches during televised interviews or appearances on behalf of the club. In addition, any time fans are allowed in the ballpark all smokeless tobacco must be concealed and cannot be carried by players, managers and coaches either in their uniform or on their body.
Such a ban would make violators subject to removal from the premises, and spokesman Jess Montejano was asked if players or coaches with smokeless tobacco might be escorted from AT&T Park in 2016.
"We would hope it doesn't come to that, and that the league would work to educate players coming to AT&T Park," Montejano told the AP.
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